What’s On | Round 16
West Coast Eagles v St Kilda
Sunday, July 2 | 2.40pm (AWST) | Optus Stadium / Whadjuk
Gates open 12.30pm

 This Sunday, July 2, be there as we take on St Kilda at Optus Stadium from 2.40pm (AWST).

Join us as we celebrate NAIDOC Week and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Tickets for Sunday’s match are on sale through Ticketmaster right now, and more tickets will be released in the lead-up to Sunday’s bouncedown.

Fan Zone locations for 2023

Head to the western concourse on level 1 (inside Gate D) before the match for some great kids’ activities and the chance to win a signed guernsey.

From 12:30pm until bouncedown, enjoy a silent disco, circus workshop, face painting and temporary tattoos from the West Coast Eagles fairies. See stilt walkers and a magician roaming the concourse, and many photo opportunities with a photobooth and player cut-outs.

From 1.50pm until 2.10pm, find our mascots Rick and Rosie and from 1.40pm until 2.10pm, meet and greet with a member of the team pre-match to get a poster signed, only on level 1.

NAIDOC Week

At our round 16 match, we will join the NAIDOC week celebrations as we recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  

Be in your seats from 2.25pm to see the Guard of Honour featuring 2023 NAIDOC Perth Award winners, and a cultural performance by the Waalitj Foundation’s Deadly Sista Girlz at three-quarter time.

Kids Go Free

From round 16 to 19, all kids aged 14 years old and under will receive free access to Toyota AFL Premiership Season matches across Australia. For more information and to redeem your Kids Go Free offer, click here.

Vaping and Smoking Reminder

Vaping and smoking are not permitted anywhere in Optus Stadium or on concourses. Offending patrons risk immediate eviction.

Public Transport

Remember to plan your journey ahead of Sunday with Transperth’s Journey Planner, and please click here for further information. Event buses will operate post-match. 

Public Transport is included in the cost of your match day ticket, with free travel on Perth’s buses and trains three hours either side of the match. If asked, please show your ticket to the driver or inspector.

If you’re heading through Gates A or B from Perth Stadium train station, 96FM will provide the afternoon’s soundtrack, with various games and giveaways on offer.

Contactless Payment

All food and beverage outlets at Optus Stadium now accept payment by credit or debit card only. If you do not have access to credit or debit card, cash can be exchanged for a complimentary ‘Cash Card’ via Cash Exchange points located around the stadium. Optus Stadium event day staff will direct you to the nearest Cash Exchange point at the stadium. For more information, please click here.

Mobile Ticketing

Tickets for Reserved Seat members are now available to download in the official West Coast Eagles App.

Avoid match day delays by downloading the official West Coast Eagles app and logging in to your West Coast Eagles account now, ahead of Sunday’s match. We strongly recommend not to leave this until the last minute, in case you encounter problems, and to save your tickets to your phone wallet to ensure no delays.

Instructions on how to use mobile ticketing are available here, and instructions on how to forward your ticket to a family member or a friend are available here.

The West Coast Eagles Membership Services team will be available at the box offices B, C, and E from 12.30pm on Sunday to answer any questions; however, please arrive early if you think that you may require assistance with your tickets.

If you have any issues with your tickets, please attend the match and the Membership Services team will assist; there is no need to miss the match solely for this reason.

Seat Return Program

Can’t make it to the match? Our Seat Return Program is available for Sunday’s match. If your seat successfully sells, you’ll receive a credit towards your 2024 membership renewal.

For more information, including a step-by-step guide to returning your seats, please click here.

Credits will not apply if your seat does not sell, or if you do not attend and do not return your seat.

Auzzie’s Flight

Be sure to be in your seats from 2.15pm to catch Auzzie’s pre-match flight around Optus Stadium at 2.20pm!

We’re on the lookout for one lucky member to release Auzzie the Eagle for our round 18 match against Richmond; click here to enter.

Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday, July 2, 2.40pm

TV: Live on 7 in WA, Fox Footy and streaming on Kayo

Last time we met: West Coast 10.2 (62) def. by St Kilda 14.6 (90) at Optus Stadium, round 19, 2022

A seven-goal second quarter proved decisive for the Saints as the visitors notched their first victory over West Coast at Optus Stadium in three attempts. West Coast was in the contest after taking a five-point lead into the first change, and hung in during the second half, but couldn’t generate enough shots at goal from 47 inside 50s to threaten victory. Playing as a back-up ruck, Josh Rotham booted the first goal of his career and added another in his 43^rd game. Tom Barrass dominated with 26 disposals and eight marks from full-back, while Jack Redden (25 disposals) and Liam Duggan (24) were also prominent. 

What it means for the Eagles: The chance to put a horror loss against Sydney behind them and move forward. An unacceptable performance at the SCG led into a long eight-day break before West Coast’s players get the chance to redeem themselves against the Saints. A better effort across the board is expected.

The stat: Milestone man Liam Duggan averages more disposals against St Kilda (19.56) than any other team.

The match-up: Tom Barrass v Max King

Last time the teams met King was held to two majors and Barrass was West Coast’s best afield with 26 disposals and eight marks. But the Eagles know the St Kilda spearhead’s threat, especially after he bagged a match-winning six majors in the corresponding fixture in 2021. If Barrass can dethrone the King on Sunday it will go a long way to West Coast producing the competitive effort the team is desperate for after a tough week.

It’s a big week for: Liam Duggan

Duggan will achieve life membership qualification when he runs out in blue and gold for the 150^th occasion against St Kilda. One of the toughest competitors and most passionate clubmen at the Eagles, the left-footed Victorian has developed into a highly-respected leader at West Coast and can be counted on to leave nothing in the tank each week. Duggan has battled injuries since he was drafted with pick 11 in 2014 but is a no-excuses footballer and his teammates love him for it.

Big call: Returning small forward Jamie Cripps to lead the team for tackles coming back from a three-month lay-off.

A ferocious West Coast fell short to St Kilda in a tense eight-point loss on Sunday at Optus Stadium in an entertaining clash that threatened to produce the upset of the season. 

With a foothold in the top eight on the line for the Saints, and the Eagles playing for respect, the match became a thrilling high-stakes battle with a difference.

St Kilda was forced to come from 31 points down in the second quarter to secure the important win, eventually prevailing 12.13 (85) to 12.5 (77) after a nail-biting final term.

They might not have expected the spirited Eagles team they encountered after last week's 171-point loss to Sydney, and were made to earn the important win from start to finish. 

Indeed, West Coast entered this match having not won any quarter since the third term against Gold Coast in round nine, losing 21 on the trot as their season lurched from low to new low.

That streak ended on Sunday, however, as the home team responded to last week's humiliation with one of their best and most ferocious quarters of football this season.

Captain Luke Shuey set the tone with eight tackles and his teammates followed, applying relentless pressure to the visitors and riding a wave of momentum to make their intentions for the day clear.

Small forward Noah Long provided the early highlight when he used one hand to guide a brilliant checkside goal through from the boundary, with the Eagles celebrating every effort with enthusiasm.

When Jamie Cripps slotted his set shot in his first game since round three, the Eagles had a seven-point quarter-time lead and reason to believe in an unthinkable upset.

Belief turned to expectation in the second quarter as West Coast showed no sign of relenting, kicking four consecutive goals to open a match-high 31-point lead.

The defensive efforts of Tom Barrass were outstanding, while the Eagles settled into a deliberately controlled game style and took 43 marks to 13 as the Saints flooded numbers back.

Two late goals from young St Kilda forward Anthony Caminiti proved crucial in controlling the margin before half-time, and the visitors were able to make their move in the third term.

They matched the Eagles' pressure through the hard-tackling Crouch, took more risks with the ball, and started forcing turnovers in the front half rather than folding back.

The Eagles responded with an impressive patch of their own, with impressive draftee Elijah Hewett hitting a contest at pace and snapping a terrific goal that restored the margin to 21 points.

General play was on the Saints' terms, however, and they capitalised with late goals that set up a thrilling final term, with the Eagles clinging to a one-point lead at the final change.

Missed chances in the final quarter will be rued by both teams, with Owens' goalsquare goal in the opening minute the only major of the term.

Cripps had a set shot in the final minute that could have set up a grandstand final centre bounce, but he sent his shot wide as the Saints escaped with the critical points. 

WEST COAST        4.1   9.2   12.2   12.5 (77)
ST KILDA                3.0   5.2   11.7   12.13 (85)  

GOALS
West Coast: Allen 2, Hewett 2, Maric 2, Cripps, Darling, Long, Petruccelle, B.Williams, J.Williams
St Kilda: Owens 4, Camaniti 2, Butler 2, King, Higgins, Gresham, Wood 

BEST
West Coast: Shuey, Barrass, Hurn, Duggan, Sheed, B Williams
St Kilda: Marshall, Crouch, Owens, Sinclair, Gresham, Steele  

INJURIES
West Coast: Darling (shoulder)
St Kilda: Battle (concussion), Hill (knee)

LATE CHANGES
West Coast: Tim Kelly and Luke Edwards (both illness) replaced in the selected side by Ryan Maric and Xavier O'Neill
St Kilda: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Harry Barnett (replaced Jack Darling in the fourth quarter)
St Kilda: Cooper Sharman (replaced Josh Battle in the second quarter)

Crowd: 35,579 at Optus Stadium